The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1887-05-05
MINNESOTA,S CLAIM
For the First Volunteer. FIRST Company and III
,Siment.

'-siment.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: Your issue of
April contains an article entitled "The First
Company of Volunteers" wherein it is stated
that Bangor. Me-, claims the high honor of
raising the first company of volunteers that
enlisted in the United States to suppress the
rebellion of 1861" This article also mentions
that work entitled Eastern Maine and the
Rebellion is about to be published, etc.
Now presume its authoy is DESTROYS to have
this work historically correct. will inform
him that Bangor cannot claim the "high
honor" above referred to- for the simple reason
that to st. Paul, Mimi, belongs that "high
honor" of having raised the " first company of
volunteers to suppress the rebellion in 1861 ";
also. the high honor" ofbeing the first State in
the Union TO make tender of troops to Presi-
dent Lincoln for the suppression of the rebel
lion; also, the high honor" of having the
'' first three-years regiment" for the sup
preston Of the rebellion; and, still further, the
"very high honor" of having the first in
diyidual volunteer" The dates mentioned in
the article referred to may be correct, but they
are too late to entitle Bangor to "the high
honor" OF having raised the first company of
volunteers.
Now for my facts and figures. Monday night,
April 10, 1851, 40 men, portion of them mem
bers of the Pioneer Guard of st. Paul. the
others citizens who were not members of the
military organization, enrolled their names as
volunteers to suppress the rebellion. This
was the evening before President Lincoln issued
his proclamation calling for $4,000 volunteers
for three months Before the 18th of April we
had over 100 names, and before the 25th of April
Ii companies had reported to the Adjutant-
General of the State in response to his call The
lst MINI. was mustered into the United States
service by Capt. A. ID. Nelson, United States
mastering officer. April %, 1861, for three
months and the st. Paul company was desig-
mated "A" being the first company organized.
On May President Lincoln issued his sec
ond proclamation, calling for 100000 men for
three years during the war;" and directed
! at the same time that all three months organ
iZations not filled 10 the maximum strength or
who would not consent 10 be mustered for three
years, should be dlsbanded, etc. Several of
those whose patriotism was at a red heat at the
start backed out when the muster-in was to
take place. This left our regiment some 160
men short of the required maximum strength,
but all those who had been mustered in for
three months volunteered TO remain for the
three years under the second call, so the De-
partment at Washington directed that our
"three-years enlistment should date from our
muster into the three-months' service, April 20.
lt is owing to this circumstance that the Ist
MINI. claims the honor of being the first
three-years regiment in the service" Our mus
ter and pay-rolls at Washington will verify
this.
Gov. Ramsey was In Washington the day the
news was received of the firing on Fort Sumter
He Immediately called OH the President and
rendered him regiment of volunteers, which
was then and there accepted with many thanks
by President Lincoln. lmmed lately afterward
the Governor sent a telegram TO Lieut. Gov.
Donnelly, at st. Paul. notifying him of what he
had DONE and directing him to commence re-
cruiting. 1t was upon the strength of this
telegram from the Governor that the Pioneer
Guard of st. Paul called a public meeting at
their armOry the evening Of the 18th Of April,
1861, 1.-THE night before President Lincoln issued
his first proclamation calling for $4,000 three
months yolunteCrs) for the sole purpose of de-
termining what action the company would
take, and 10 commence recruiting. Our armory
was crowded with eager and anxious citizens to
sec what the crack company of the North
west would do. and TO sec ii we would "show
the white feather" now that soldiers were
needed, etc.
To cut my story short, motion was made
by member of the company that the Secretary
secure a suitable book SO that all those present
who wanted TO volunteer might have the
chance 10 enroll their names. This motion was
offered expressly to give any of the citizens
present who were not members of the Pioneer
Guard a chance 10 volunteer If they were so
disposed. This motion prevailed, the book was
produced. and the Captain of the company an
nounced TO the meeting that all who desired to
enroll their names as volunteers could do so.
and they should "step up and sign their names"
] at once approached the table. remarking at
the time, Here is one for the war;" and was
the first man TO write his name, and it was the
only enlistment-roll / ever signed. Some As
or more Immediately followed and signed their
names. Our armOry was thrown open next
morning as recruiting station.
From the above facts l claim the distin-
guished honor" to-day Of being the first vol
unteer in defense Of the Union" aud claim for
Co. A, LIST Mimi, "the high honor" Of being
the first organized volunteer company for the
suppression Of the rebellion in 1861. The above
statements are not boastingly made. but are
stubborn facts, and can be verified by 10 or ~
of our most respectable citizens, who were pres
ent at the meeting referred to and are here to-
day in st. Paul.. r. KING, Captain. Co. G.,
LIST Mimi, st. Paul, Mimi.
A T. n